5 tips for buying a new appliance

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Here are five pieces of advice for anyone buying a new appliance. As an engineer with over 30 years in the trade I give serious consideration to how easy it will be to get repaired, and to the quality of aftersales service and spare parts costs. I also attach great importance to the quality of service and advice you get from the retailer whilst in the process of buying – and the attitude you are likely to encounter if something goes wrong.

Tip 1: Which Appliance Brand?

The brand will determine the quality of the appliance, how repairable it is, and the quality of repairs both in, and out of its guarantee. Some brands have well established aftersales service with directly employed engineers. Others have aftersales service run by third parties using networks of private unrelated engineers, which can result in patchy service. Brands sold in the UK for many decades tend to have the more established service, and relatively new brands, particularly budget ones from China, or household names more known for TVs tend to rely on third parties.

Research and list brands to consider and brands to avoid. Don’t just ask a sales person for an appliance with specific features because you may be presented with one that has them all but from a brand you shouldn’t be buying. Tell them you are looking at specific makes first.

Cost is undeniably a major consideration, and may prevent many from buying “the best”, but even with a low budget you can still choose from the appliance brands with the better reputation, and avoid those with poor reliability or poor repair-ability records. For ideas about which washing machine brands to look at read Which is the best washing machine to buy?

There is no single appliance brand which can be recommended above all others for everyone. None are perfect, all have their pros and cons. If money is no object though you can’t beat Miele. But if working to a more average budget of £300 – £500 there are brands to look at in the link above.

Buy washing machines retailers page (useful for all appliances and products)

Extra TIP: Consider taking advantage of the Which? £1 offer to properly research the best brands, the most reliable appliances – Best Buy and even Don’t Buy recommendations.

Tip 2: Don’t go on past experience or reputations

Don’t loyally buy the same brand because it’s been OK. Brands can change any time, and one that was good several years or more back may now be very different. Some household names with decades of respected trading in the UK, have been bought out by global companies who changed them. Sometimes they’ve bought a brand with a high reputation only to move it into a lower price range and reduce build quality accordingly. Bosch and AEG for example were once very high quality appliances but are now competing in much lower price ranges because their owners already have other brands covering the higher price ranges.

Bosh now compete with the cheapest brands, and have washing machines under £300. I’m not saying avoid them, in fact Bosch get good recommendations on some models from Which? Best Washing Machine Brands and are reported to be quite reliable. It’s just that they are now in a completely different class to that of a 15 – 20 year old Bosch washing machine, so if you want one of the same build quality you will need to try someone like Miele instead.

Tip 3: Don’t go on price alone

Although it’s fair to say that price is an indicator, you can’t reliably judge the quality of an appliance on price. It would be great if more expensive always meant better but it doesn’t – and not just in regard to appliances. You can pay a lot of money for a top model bristling with features, but not particularly well made, when for the same money (or little more) you could buy a considerably better one with less specifications. This article explains why a more expensive appliance doesn’t always mean a better quality one – Is a more expensive washing machine a better washing machine?

Tip 4: Consider how long the appliance is guaranteed for

How long is the guarantee?

The difference between the length of guarantee you get with different brands can be a game changer, especially if there’s not a lot of difference between them other than the guarantee. Appliances usually come with just the standard 1 year guarantee and some come with 5 year “Parts” guarantees (though these are not always as good as they appear – read I have a 5 year parts guarantee should I use it?) however, some have 2 year parts and labour guarantees, and others have 3, 5 or even 10 year guarantees.

Not all manufacturer guarantees are equal –

• Miele – 2, 5 or 10 year guarantees
• John Lewis Brand Appliances – 3 year guarantee – all other brands come with minimum of 2 year guarantee
• Bosh appliances – 2 year guarantee
• Other brands have varying guarantees – ask about the guarantee, don’t just assume it’s only 1 year